Storm clouds fill the screen as a hooded figure appears, making the crowd tremble in the theater. Fear not, for on a broomstick high above the Quidditch pitch flies Harry, the boy who lived. The theater claps at the amazing showing, basking in the glory of the only Harry Potter films. Well, they would have been, until HBO decided that it wanted more from the franchise.
This will be Hollywood’s biggest regret: wasting time, energy and money on a pointless remake of J.K. Rowling’s pride and joy. We already have Harry Potter movies. In fact, they are one of the most successful movie adaptations from a book series ever created. A movie where the fans don’t constantly complain about how much better the book was.
So how in Hogwarts do these new producers think they can improve on perfection? Well, their current solution is to revamp and reboot. A new Harry Potter series, this time on television, will be made to replace the irreplaceable in our hearts, on HBO in 2027. Similar to what you’re probably doing, fans are raging about this.
As a kid of the 2010s I grew up on movies from the 2000s. The Harry Potter series, an immediate classic, was my favorite franchise. If I’m being honest it still is. It gives that nostalgic feeling of movie nights as a child and puts me in the mood for the holidays.
Many fans agree, “I thought the movies were really well done, and I enjoyed watching them,” says Summit Librarian Holly Dierdorff. She’s always loved the original movies, and while she recommends reading the books first, she finds that the films from 2001 were a well-written adaptation.
Other fans discussed the beloved actors for Hermione (Emma Watson), Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron (Rupert Grint), who have become legends of Hollywood.
“I really liked the original actors… and I personally liked the director,” said Summit senior Campbell Thomas.
These favorable opinions of the movies are implanted in many childhoods since the movies were released and a majority of those who have never read the books had always at least seen one of the films.
However, this isn’t good enough for Hollywood, who has apparently taken it upon themselves to recreate a favorite of teens everywhere to be released on HBO. As most would imagine this doesn’t settle well with fans and leaves us all wondering whatever happened to the sentiment of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?
“I really don’t care for it [the remakes]. It feels very unnecessary, given that there’s already a very good adaptation of this series. The originals are very popular, and it feels like an unnecessary cash grab at a market that’s already thoroughly trod,” said Summit junior Harkin Baxter.
Is it all just about money? Critics claim that it is. They have been extenuating the point that the remake is another pathetic attempt to squeeze money out of an already wrapped up classic. They explain that HBO is overdoing it and they know it.
“When you think of Harry Potter, you have this image in your mind of it already, because everyone’s watched the original movies,” said Summit junior Ayla Shuman. “Making a show is just eliminating that [nostalgia] for me.”
Not only is a remake a waste of time, but it may not even be a successful cashgrab as many self proclaimed experts are critical of the series accuracy. Certain complaints have surrounded the fact that the series will be displaying slight changes to characters appearance and personality.
Some of the series changes will include both small adjustments, like characters’ costumes and larger ones such as Snape, a professor generally considered to be cruel, being played by an African American actor. Other adjustments have also been made such as new scripts in the series and plot additions in an attempt to supposedly make the series more accurate.
“It’s completely gonna ruin the books. If you’re trying to make it more accurate, you really have to stay completely true to the story,” said Shuman. “Changing certain characters is the worst thing about this. It doesn’t feel right at all.”
However, the largest difference will be the introduction of a narrator to the story.
“I don’t care for the narrator at all. It’s not National Geographic. I don’t want David Attenborough telling me what’s happening in my Harry Potter,” Baxter said. Believe me: None of us do.
However, some mentioned upsides to this new era of Harry Potter despite their frustration with another remake.
“I think it would encourage a new generation to read the Harry Potter books,” added Dierdorff. She explained that people like her nephew may find interest in this new series and that the movies may need an update.
While this is all fine and well, many question whether reaching a new generational audience was the legitimate motive of the series producers.
Thomas explained her thoughts on the reason behind the new series, discussing how it’s possible that the series is trying to include more LGBTQ concepts because of Rowling’s push against it.
“I just know a lot of the original cast is very supportive of LGBTQ rights and ethnic rights and Rowling does not appreciate that,” Thomas explained.
Perhaps HBO is trying to promote a diversity agenda and make up for Rowling’s positions on certain groups. While it’s hard to say whether including more diversity in the series is the producers goal, it’s very possible this is a reason behind the creation.
Despite the director’s motives, all fans agree that we love the originals and will miss them as they get run over by the new show of this generation. The 2001 movies, a precise and beautiful mosaic of the Harry Potter legends, will forever be tainted by this addition of a supposedly more up-to-date show.
What would Dumbledore say to this incredibly distasteful remake? Likely to “not pity the dead, but to pity the living and above all, those who live without love.” Or, in our case, those who will never know the love of a true Harry Potter classic; those who will never watch the scar-faced boy soar in the air to defeat dementors on his broom stick; or those who will have to live with the treachery of never witnessing Emma Watson’s greatest performance. Yes indeed, pity those who will have to live through this epic failure of a reboot.
And yes, we fans may be sticklers for the old ways, but there’s nothing wrong with sharing in the joyful memories of Rowling’s esteemed classics. As according to the students: Long live the wizard world in its prime.
